W HAT ’ S N EW
T he Forest Health Monitoring Program had a booth in the exhibit hall of the joint convention of the Society of American Foresters and the Canadian Institute of
Forestry/Institut forestier du Canada held October 8-11, 2014 in Salt Lake City, UT.
The exhibit hall was also open to attendees of the International Union of Forest
Research Organizations (IUFRO) World Congress that was co-located with the SAF &
CIF/IFC meeting. The national poster presented an overview of FHM and included the
2013 damage and insect and disease map, six examples of Evaluation Monitoring posters, and presentations of three Research on Monitoring Techniques projects.
Various documents were available to attendees including the State Highlights, a national report and other data/methods reports, and a variety of factsheets. Many visitors stopped at the booth and expressed interest in the FHM program.
C ongratulations to Kurt Riitters (Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment
Center, Southern Research Station), winner of this year’s Southern Research Station
Director’s Award for Distinguished Scientist. This award is in recognition of Kurt’s many years of cutting-edge work in the field of landscape ecology. Kurt has also worked with the FHM program since its beginning in the early 1990’s.
State and Private Forestry, Forest Health Protection, for the Rocky Mountain
Region welcomes Roy Mask, their new Assistant Director. Roy is currently the Leader for the Gunnison Service Center, Gunnison CO, and has served in that post since 1995.
He has served as an Entomologist in the Alaska Region and has held positions in the
Southern Region and on two National Forests in the Rocky Mountain Region. Roy is experienced in silvicultural practices, entomology, and has extensive experience with science/technology transfer and collaboration.
Recipients of Fellowship with the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation’s
Washington D.C. Exchange Program.
In September, Tracy Hancock, member of the
FHM Management Team, along with 19 other federal employees toured Southern
California’s agricultural region as part of the Washington, D.C. Educational Fellowship
Program ( http://www.agleaders.org/program ). Also on the tour, were USDA Animal and Plant Inspection Service employees: Scott Pfister, Pest Management Division
Director and Acting Associate Executive Director for Plant Health Programs, and
Christine Zakarka, Deputy Administrator, Policy and Program Development. Hosted by the Agricultural Leadership Alumni Council, this exchange brings together government representatives from congressional staff to federal agency employees for an in-depth learning opportunity. The goal is to educate D.C.-based decision makers about current issues and complex challenges facing California’s farmers and ranchers, as well as foster open communication between those producing our food and fiber with federal entities. Conversations focused on the nexus of agriculture, water, energy, and pest control. The tour visited Associates Insectary in Santa Paula, California. At this facility beneficial insects are raised for biocontrol of pests through Integrated Pest
Management. For additional information, contact Brett Chandler at 805-933-1301.

U PCOMING
E
VENTS (Items beginning with * indicate a new listing or new information)
*N ovember 3-4, 2014.
Charlotte, NC. The Tenth Meeting of the Continental Dialogue on Non-Native Forest Insects and Diseases. The meeting will be held in conjunction with the Arbor Day Foundation’s Partners in Community Forestry National
Conference. Planned updates and expert discussions will include: emerging international and regional issues in forest health; Healthy Trees, Healthy Cities efforts;
Don’t Move Firewood, the Firewood Outreach Coordinating Initiative, and industry-led firewood certification; lightening-round presentations by national leaders; Apps, social media, and forest pests; and facilitated group discussion on the Continental Forest
Dialogue’s next 10 years. Information about the Continental Dialogue Meeting as well as the Arbor Day Partners Registration is now open at http://arborday.org/shopping/pcf/2014/event-natureconservancy.cfm
. Complete conference information can be found online at www.arborday.org/pcf and www.continentalforestdialogue.org
.
S eptember 17-20, 2015. Ashland, OR. 2015. EARLY ALERT! 2015 Whitebark Pine
Ecosystem Foundation Annual Science and Management Workshop.
This will be the first time the Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation (WPEF) has had their scientific meeting in the Pacific Coast range of whitebark pine – a chance to feature unique aspects of this part of the range (California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia), the other high elevation white pine species, and to hear key information from scientists and managers from other areas. The hope is to feature not only whitebark pine, but also the other high-elevation 5-needle pines (foxtail, limber, southwestern white pine, the two bristlecone pines – many of which occur in this area [and notably in California]).
Also, the definitive (through 2015) information on genetic blister rust resistance will be available. The Crater Lake National Park field trip will feature many things, including the successful restoration plantings they have established, the dramatic impacts of mountain pine beetle on whitebark pine, the selection of trees for resistance testing and gene conservation, and much more. Tentative schedule:
Thursday: WPEF board meeting; and optional field trip to foxtail pine area in Northern
California?
Friday: WPEF Science meeting (all day) at Southern Oregon University
Saturday: Field trip to Crater Lake National Park
Sunday: Optional fieldtrip to Dorena Genetic Resource Center (see all 9 U.S. species of white pines in blister rust testing) + fieldsite
Monday: Alternate day for Dorena Genetic Resource Center field trip (if Sunday is used for foxtail pine trip, etc.).
If you have topics (and speakers) to suggest for the Friday indoor session , please send information to Kristen Chadwick ( kchadwick@fs.fed.us
), Jen Beck
( Jen_Beck@nps.gov
) or Richard Sniezko ( rsniezko@fs.fed.us
).
Job
Opportunities
T he USDA Forest Service, State & Private Forestry (S&PF ) is currently advertising two Supervisory Natural Resource Management Specialist positions (GS-0401-14). The first position is located in the Pacific Northwest Region (R6), and the duty station is in
Portland, Oregon. The second position is located in the Alaska Region (R10), and the duty station is in Anchorage, Alaska. These positions serve as the Deputy Directors for

the full breadth of programs in State and Private Forestry. The Deputy Director serves as an alter-ego to the Director and shares responsibility with the Director for providing administrative and technical oversight to all State and Private Forestry programs including supervision of employees. The positions are responsible for leadership, formulating regional policy, standards, procedures, and direction; coordinating and integrating programs and activities; and providing technical expertise. Both positions are full-time permanent and are open to current permanent Forest Service employees with competitive status, reinstatement eligibles, persons with disabilities, certain military spouses, 30% or more disabled veterans, former Peace Corps or VISTA volunteers, CTAP eligibles, and those eligible for other Special Hiring Authorities.
Duties: Promotes progressive actions that enable the program to spearhead innovative and non-traditional solutions to complex issues and problems; Provides authoritative advice on program area development, interpretation, and implementation; Leads, coaches, and coordinates with others on a large variety of issues to achieve effective and efficient program management and ensures a creative learning environment;
Provides leadership, allocates resources, and implements activities to accomplish Forest
Service multicultural organization direction; Formulates and directs the development of policies, objectives, practices, and standards that recognize interrelationships between resources; Integrates with other program areas to provide expert professional assistance to State forestry agencies, national forests, and others in development of natural resources programs; Provides interpretation, direction, and oversight to grants/agreements and other instruments that are used to deliver forestry-assistance programs; Collaborates with partners and others on Federal, State, and private lands with an emphasis on integrated resource management; Serves as the principal contact for members of other Federal and State land management agencies, news media, user groups, local and national elected officials, and others who have an interest in these programs; Makes work contacts that are highly complex, demanding, and critical to program accomplishment; Interprets and implements policies, objectives, standards, programs, plans, and procedures associated with the overall management of assigned resources; Is a recognized national and international technical authority in natural resource management for assigned areas. For additional information about the position, including how to apply, view the full vacancy announcements on www.usajobs.gov
.
The job announcement number is 15-0657-75045FS-KW and the open period is to
Friday, October 31, 2014 . For additional information about the duties of these positions, please contact Doug Daoust at 503-808-2913 or ddaoust@fs.fed.us
or Steve
Patterson at 907-743-9451 or spatterson@fs.fed.us
. USDA is an Equal Opportunity
Employer .
T he USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, State & Private Forestry
(S&PF) is in search of an Information Specialist, GS-0401/12 position located in Sandy
Oregon. The position is responsible for supporting managers and resource specialists in the use of geospatial technology and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for land, natural resources, ecosystem management, and the Regional Aerial Detection Survey program. Major duties include three areas: Program Management - The position provides leadership in the development and use of spatial data and advanced geospatial technological applications, and serves as principal technical advisor on Geographic
Information Systems (GIS). Develops and implements geospatial program goals in conjunction with resource management objectives and organizational business requirements. Advises, counsels and assists Regional and Forest staff regarding GIS project planning including timelines, data analysis capabilities, budgeting, contracting, and other information management considerations; Data Management - Oversees data life cyle management. Coordinates input from managers and resource specialists to determine type, amount and level of information required to develop and analyze ecosystem management alternatives. Assesses quality, compatability, and limitations of

P
UBLICATIONS
O
F
I
NTEREST various data used in a wide array of land management and planning efforts. Develops data dictionaries, data models, and metadata for multi-disciplinary information and geospatial applications. Coordinates conversion of geospatial information and remote sensing imagery into GIS databases. Responsible for organization and maintenance of resource information and data to facilitate analysis across multiple disciplines;
Geospatial Analysis - Provides expertise and makes recommendations on the development and application of geospatial analysis processes, protocols and solutions to mission critical resource management issues. Applies standard geospatial and cartographic principles to new situations and resolves novel or obscure problems.
Develops and interprets conceptual, mathematical and computer models for geospatial applications. Applies advanced principles to facilitate geospatial model design and analysis procedures related to ecological, natural resource and relevant socio-economic data and products. Uses spatial statistical tools for modeling geospatial data to simulate, estimate, interpolate, and predict natural processes and the linkages with human uses and values. Manipulates and analyzes geospatial data to support resource management decisions for multiple resource, jurisdicational, and ownership units or a large geographical region. Performs multi-scale and/or multi-resource analysis in support of planning, analysis, and monitoring activities. The position is part of R6 Regional Office
S&PF staff, but Sandy, Oregon is the position duty station. Some travel will be required. Telework may be considered. If you are interested in this position, return the outreach reply form, attached to this Update as Attachment 1, to Doug Daoust by email ddaoust@fs.fed.us
by October 27th, 2014 . For more information about the position, contact Doug Daoust, Acting Director, State & Private Forestry at 503.808-2913 or
971-221-7846. USDA is an Equal Opportunity Employer .
O regon State University, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology (BPP) is currently advertising for a 9-month, full-time (1.0 FTE), tenure-track position in forest pathology. This is a joint position with the Department of Forest Ecosystems & Society with a tenure home in BPP. The successful candidate is expected to establish an innovative and competitive research program that pursues scholarly work in the area of
Forest Pathology. Research specialization within Forest Pathology is open, although as part of the research effort, the candidate will be expected to address emerging and/or reemerging diseases in forest ecosystems of Oregon. Recognition will be given to collaborative efforts with researchers at OSU and at other national or international institutions. The position is 50 percent scholarship and research; 30 percent teaching; 10 percent mentoring, advising and supervision; and 10 percent service and communitybuilding. Required qualifications include a PhD with research experience in plant pathology, mycology or closely related field, and a commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity. Postdoctoral experience is strongly preferred. Other preferred qualifications include research experience in forest pathology, potential for effective teaching and development of an interdisciplinary research program, and a record of/commitment to work with underrepresented/underserved students or other audiences.
To review the position description and apply, go to posting # 0013186 at http://oregonstate.edu/jobs . For full consideration, apply by 12/10/14 when review of applications will begin. Closing date is 01/15/15 . Oregon State University is an
AA/EOE.
1.
Guo, Q.F.
2014. Species invasions on islands: searching for general patterns and principles. Landscape Ecology 29:1123–1131.

2.
Guo, Q.F.
2014. Plant hybridization: the role of human disturbance and exotic invasion. Diversity and Distributions 20:1345–1354.
3.
Guo, Q.F.; Norman, S.P.
2013. Improve restoration to control plant invasions under climate change. Pages 203-216 in S. Jose; Singh, H.; Batish, D.; Kohli, R., eds. Invasive Plant Ecology. CRC Press, Boca Raton.
4.
Olatinwo, R.; Guo; Q.F.; Fei, S.; Otrosina, W.; Klepzig, K.; Streett, D.
2013.
Vulnerability to insects, diseases and invasive plants in relation to climate change.
Pages 127-172 in Vose, J.; Klepzig, K., eds. Climate Change Adaptation and
Mitigation Management Options. CRC Press, Boca Raton.
5.
6.
P otter, K.M.; Koch, F.H.
2014. Phylogenetic community structure of forests across the conterminous United States: Regional ecological patterns and forest health implications. Forest Science. 60(5):851-861. DOI:10.5849/forsci.13-115.
R oot, Heather, T.; McCune, Bruce; Jovan, Sarah. 2014. Lichen communities and species indicate climate thresholds in southeast and south-central Alaska,
USA. The Bryologist.117(3): 241-252. Available online: http://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/46416
7.
Simmons, M.J.; Lee, T.D.; Ducey, M.J.; Dodds, K.J.
2014. Invasion of Winter
Moth in New England: Effects of Defoliation and Site Quality on Tree Mortality.
Forests. 5: 2440-2463. doi:10.3390/f5102440
F OR M ORE
FHM
I NFORMATION
V isit the FHM homepage and the Forest Health Portal or access both via the USDA Forest Service homepage

Attachment 1
OUTREACH RESPONSE FORM – Respond by October 27, 2014
USDA Forest Service
Pacific Northwest and Alaska Regions
State & Private Forestry
Information Specialist GS-0401-12 - R6 Regional Office, with duty station in Sandy, Oregon
If you are interested in this position opportunity, please complete this form by October 27, 2014 and send to Doug Daoust, by e-mail: Email: ddaoust@fs.fed.us
NAME:
______________________________________________________________________
E-MAIL ADDRESS:
_______________________________________________________________________
MAILING ADDRESS:
_______________________________________________________________________
TELEPHONE NUMBER: ___
CURRENT EMPLOYER: USFS____ BLM____ OTHER (SPECIFY)____________________
CURRENT POSITION TITLE: ________________________________________________
CURRENT SERIES AND GRADE: ______________________________
Do you have experience with Aerial Detection Survey data and GIS mapping Yes ___
No____
How much experience? _______________
TYPE OF CURRENT GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENT:
PERMANENT______ TEMPORARY____TERM______ OTHER_____ N/A ________
CURRENT AGENCY/REGION/FOREST/DISTRICT: _______________________________
If you are not a current permanent (career or career conditional) employee, are you eligible to be hired under any of the following special authorities?
___ PERSON WITH DISABILITIES
___ DISABLED VETERAN W/ 30% COMPENSABLE DISABILITY
___ VETERANS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ACT OF 1998
___ FORMER PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER
___ OTHER_________________________________
Thank you for your interest. USDA Forest Service is an equal opportunity employer.